Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been handed a seven-year prison sentence following her hunger strike, according to supporters. The latest ruling against Mohammadi comes amidst Iran’s ongoing crackdown on dissent, particularly after widespread protests and casualties caused by security forces.
The verdict was confirmed by Mohammadi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, who revealed that she received a six-year sentence for “gathering and collusion,” along with an additional one and a half years for propaganda. She was also slapped with a two-year travel ban and two years of internal exile to Khosf, located about 740 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
Supporters expressed outrage over the sentence, with Amnesty International’s Agnès Callamard condemning the escalating repression of dissent by Iranian authorities. Mohammadi, a prominent figure in Iranian activism, has been on a hunger strike since February 2 after her arrest in December.
Despite her continued advocacy and international presence, Mohammadi faced renewed imprisonment risks after being granted a temporary release over health concerns in December 2024. The activist had been serving a previous sentence of 13 years and nine months for alleged collusion and propaganda against the Iranian government.
Mohammadi’s supporters have highlighted her deteriorating health conditions, with reports of multiple heart attacks and a recent surgery to remove a potentially cancerous bone lesion. While there were hopes for her temporary release for medical treatment, Iranian officials have adopted a tougher stance on dissent post-protests.
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, issued stern warnings against dissenters, signaling a wave of harsh prison sentences for those challenging the regime. The crackdown on activists like Mohammadi underscores Tehran’s tightening grip on dissent in the aftermath of nationwide unrest.